The Society invites applications for the following four schemes — open to historians at a range of career stages — with closing dates from 30 October 2026 onwards.
- RHS / Social History Archive Partnership, providing free access to the online resource, The Social History Archive, published by DC Thomson: to enable up to 30 researchers per session, without existing institutional access, to use this resource for a six-month period. This is a new programme, opening on 21 September 2026. Next closing date: Friday 30 October 2026
- Postgraduate Research Support Grants, 2026-27* offering awards of either £500 or £1,000 to support Postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD degrees) without access to research funding to undertake activities such as visiting archives, historical sites and conducting interviews. Grants are available to current members of the Royal Historical Society. Next closing date: Friday 4 December 2026
- Early Career Research Support Grants, 2026-27* offering awards of either £500 or £1,000 to support Early Career Researchers, within five years of completing a doctorate in history, to undertake activities such as visiting archives, historical sites and conducting interviews. Grants are available to current members of the Royal Historical Society. Next closing date: Friday 4 December 2026
- David Berry Fellowship in the History of Scotland and the Scottish People* offering an annual award of up to £2,500 to undertake research on the history of Scotland and the Scottish people worldwide. Grants are available to current members of the Royal Historical Society. Next closing date: Friday 5 March 2027
*Open to current Fellows and Members of the Royal Historical Society.
Becoming a member of the Society
If you wish to join the Society, as a Fellow, Associate Fellow, Member or Postgraduate Member please see here for details and the benefits of RHS membership. Applications are welcome at any time.
The next closing dates for receipt of applications are 5 October and 14 December 2026.
Details of current holders of Royal Historical Society Fellowships and Grants are available here.
All enquiries about Research Funding should be sent to: [email protected].
HEADER IMAGE: Augustus Pugin-designed bread plate with wording ‘Want Not, Waste Not’, by Minton Pottery, UK c.1850, Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain.